help 'mug' illiteracy

updated thu 31 jul 03

John Hesselberth on tue 29 jul 03

Hi Everyone,

I need help. For the past 8 or 9 years I have worked closely with a
small community-based non-profit organization called Volunteer English
Program in Chester County. The name is a little convoluted, perhaps,
but what we do is use volunteer tutors to teach English to adult
immigrants and refugees. We do mostly one-on-one tutoring so we can
best meet the very specific needs of the individual student. Last year
we helped about 200 people from 40 or so different countries learn
English. We did this with the able assistance of 150 volunteer tutors
and a paid staff of one full time director and 5 other part time
employees. We always have a waiting list of about 40-50 students
wanting help.

Like most non-profits, we are having a difficult year. We live off a
Pennsylvania Dept. of Education grant, foundation grants, United Way
grants, and individual contributions. Foundation grants, in particular,
have been difficult to come by recently. We are on the verge of having
to cut back our services. So why am I writing Clayart? In a recent
brain-storming session around fund raising I offered to donate a
minimum of 100 mugs if the rest of the Board of Directors would figure
out a way to turn them into money. They took me up on it like a duck on
a June bug. We came up with the theme of Help Mug Illiteracy and are
already selling mugs at a local gallery owned by one of our
ex-tutors--she takes no commission on them. We will also be selling
mugs (and trying to locate new volunteer tutors) at a local restaurant
festival in late September. And there are other ideas bubbling for
turning mugs into money.

So here comes the pitch. If any of you anywhere in the world would like
to send us one or more mugs, we would be delighted and grateful. I have
already made 120 and will supply 200 or more by mid-September from my
own studio (the upside is that I already have lots to choose from for
the Clayart mug exchange at NCECA next March--I'm actually ahead of the
game for a change). If you are interested in helping please visit our
web site for all the details at:

http://www.volunteerenglish.org/mugs.html

While you are there, take a moment to learn more about us--our web site
is thorough and well done--another volunteer is the webmaster so the
only cost of it is the ISP charge. Thanks for your consideration and,
if you can help, many, many thanks.

Regards,

John

http://www.frogpondpottery.com
http://www.masteringglazes.com

Judith S. Labovitz on wed 30 jul 03

Jonn... count me in

I grew up in Delaware County (many many many many years ago!!)

judy...in mid-michigan (absolutely gorgeous day today!!!)

>So here comes the pitch. If any of you anywhere in the world would like
>to send us one or more mugs, we would be delighted and grateful. I have
>already made 120 and will supply 200 or more by mid-September from my
>own studio (the upside is that I already have lots to choose from for
>the Clayart mug exchange at NCECA next March--I'm actually ahead of the
>game for a change). If you are interested in helping please visit our
>web site for all the details at:
>
>http://www.volunteerenglish.org/mugs.html
>
>While you are there, take a moment to learn more about us--our web site
>is thorough and well done--another volunteer is the webmaster so the
>only cost of it is the ISP charge. Thanks for your consideration and,
>if you can help, many, many thanks.
>
>Regards,
>
>John
>
>http://www.frogpondpottery.com
>http://www.masteringglazes.com
>
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